Saints Cosmas and Damian Medical Saints Festival

The Festival of the Medical Saints in Maglie

In the devotional calendar of Maglie, a town in the province of Lecce in the heart of Salento, the Festival of Saints Cosmas and Damian holds a special place. Although the official patron saint of the city is Saint Nicholas, the festival of the two miracle-working saints is deeply rooted in the community: every year, towards the end of September, it draws faithful and visitors to the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, located in the square that bears their name.

Who were the Medical Saints

Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers and physicians who lived between the 3rd and 4th centuries. Tradition remembers them as anargyroi, meaning "without silver," because they treated the sick without ever asking for payment, out of pure Christian charity. Martyrs under Diocletian, they are venerated as protectors of health and patrons of doctors and pharmacists. Throughout Puglia, and particularly in Salento, their devotion is widespread, and festivals dedicated to them multiply between spring and autumn.

The Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian

The heart of the festival is the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, which stands in Piazza Santi Medici in Maglie. It is a Baroque-style confraternity church with an elegant facade and interiors decorated with frescoes and sculptures depicting the two saints. It houses the Confraternity of the Agonizing Jesus and the Medical Saints, a historic association that has organized the festivities for generations and preserves the devotional tradition.

Rites and traditions of the festival

The festival intertwines religious and secular elements. The most evocative moment is the evening candlelight procession, which on the eve of the festival winds through the historic center in an atmosphere of reflection and popular participation. On the day of the festival, Holy Masses are celebrated, and the solemn procession with the statues of the Medical Saints moves through the city streets, accompanied by the confreres. Around the church and along the streets of the center, traditional craft and food stalls are set up, completing the atmosphere typical of a Salento village festival.

Maglie and Salento

Located in the center of the Salento peninsula, in the province of Lecce, Maglie is an important commercial and cultural hub of lower Salento, known for its historic center, courtyards, and 19th-century palaces. The Festival of the Medical Saints is one of the many recurring events that mark the year in Maglie, along with the Addolorata Fair, the feast of Saint Nicholas, and the celebrations for Saints Peter and Paul. For those visiting Puglia at the end of summer, it is an authentic opportunity to experience the region's popular religiosity and traditions far from the major tourist circuits.

2026 Edition

The dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially announced: following custom, the festival should return in late September. The detailed program is usually released by the Confraternity and the parish in the preceding weeks. This page will be updated as soon as the information is published.